FA Cup holders Arsenal won the Community Shield for the second season in a row as they beat Premier League champions Chelsea at Wembley.Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored the winner with a powerful drive into the top corner with his weaker left foot.
Ramires headed wide unmarked from Loic Remy’s cross as Chelsea failed to hit the target before the break.
Eden Hazard skied a chance over the bar before Oscar’s free-kick was parried wide by Arsenal debutant Petr Cech.
It was the first time the former Chelsea goalkeeper had been called into action – after 68 minutes of play – and soon after he comfortably held on to Kurt Zouma’s header.
Arsenal went close late on through Santi Cazorla and Kieran Gibbs in a match where both sides looked rusty a week before their Premier League opener.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger finally had reason to celebrate against Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea having failed to win in any of his previous 13 attempts.
In February 2014, the Chelsea boss called his opposite number a “specialist in failure”, then in October the Gunners boss shoved his rival during a heated touchline quarrel.
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s stunning strike was Arsenal’s first goal against Chelsea for 506 minutes, as the Gunners ended the Blues’ eight-match unbeaten run against them.
Chelsea, though, can argue they are a week behind Arsenal in terms of preparation, with Italian side Fiorentina visiting Stamford Bridge in their final pre-season match in midweek.